Pine Belt is a birdwatcher's paradise

Jun. 28, 2013

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Newcomers to Hattiesburg may not expect the area to be rich in avian offerings, but the truth is, we live in a birdwatcher’s paradise.

As an avid amateur birder, I’ve had the chance to study and watch birds in many different environments, and I can honestly say that Mississippi — and the Pine Belt area in particular — is perhaps the best place to share some time with our feathered friends.

And it doesn’t take much to get started. Even if you’ve never watched birds before — even if you can’t tell the difference between a finch and an eagle — all you need to do is sprinkle some seeds on the ground outside your window.

Guaranteed, you’ll have some visitors before you know it, and you’re now officially a birder. And it’s up to you where you go from there — you can keep it as simple as you want, or you can upgrade to any of the seemingly infinite number of feeders and birdhouses that are offered in stores.

No matter which route you choose to go, you’re sure to encounter a variety of species of birds here in the Pine Belt. Just offering black oil sunflower seed in an inexpensive feeder will net you a litany of birds, including — but certainly not limited to — Carolina Chickadees, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals and one of my favorite species of birds, the Tufted Titmouse.

Titmice are definitely some intriguing little birds, and we have them in abundance. These little gray dudes are easily identifiable — just look for the crest on the top of their head, their rust-colored flanks and the button-black eyes. They’re extremely curious and perky birds, but if you start to annoy or aggravate them, they’re not shy about chewing you out.

If you want to attract a wider variety of birds, just offer some suet in your yard. This stuff, which is simply rendered beef fat, can be purchased for around a dollar at most stores, and is a hit with almost all birds.

Before you know it, you’ll have birds that would normally never come just for seeds. You’re likely to see Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers and Carolina Wrens. You’ll also attract our state bird — and probably my all-time favorite bird — the Northern Mockingbird.

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These energetic songsters are not shy — they love to make their presence known. Another easily identifiable bird, you’ll often see them on power lines and on top of posts, singing their hearts out. Watch them for a minute or two, and you’re bound to see their theatrics.

They love to swoop up and down off of their perches, flashing their white wing patches and copying the songs of other birds. Recently, I saw a mockingbird stand only a few feet away from a Northern Cardinal family. Every time the male cardinal called to his family, the mockingbird would make the same chirp right back. They’re like the practical jokers of the bird world.

One word of advice for backyard birders, though — try to stay away from the “wild bird” mixes, which contain mostly those small, round millet seeds. There are some birds around here that will eat them — such as Mourning Doves and some finches — but most of our Southern birds will ignore them or rake them out of the feeders.

If you decide to branch out, the Pine Belt offers several different types of forests, from the obligatory piney woods to mixed hardwood lots. If you take a walk through the woods, you’re likely to see many birds that may not always visit your yard.

If there are dead trees in your woods, they’re likely to attract many different types of woodpeckers, including Red-headed, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers.

Pileated Woodpeckers are pretty hard to miss. They’re really big — about the size of an American Crow — and have fiery red crests on top of their heads. If you see dead trees with big rectangular holes in them, it’s a pretty sure sign Pileateds are in the area.

And don’t forget hummingbirds. If you fill a feeder with sugar water, you’re likely to get visits from Ruby-throated and Rufous Hummingbirds. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually migrate out of our area around October, but the Rufous may stick around a little longer. These guys are tiny — their nests are only about an inch and a half in diameter, and their eggs are about the size of peas.

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And you haven’t seen everything we have to offer until you visit some scenic spots like Paul B. Johnson State Park, Black Creek and the Okatoma. All these spots are only a few minutes outside of Hattiesburg, and they’re all great places to go birdwatching.

You’ll probably see some plovers, like the Killdeer. These brown-and-white birds can often be seen foraging in the open, and you can always tell they’re around by their piercing “kill-dee” cry. If they have babies around, they’ll even do a “broken wing” dance to attract potential predators away from the young ones.

There’s also the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Gautier, which is less than a two-hour drive from Hattiesburg. The refuge houses about 110 federally-protected Mississippi Sandhill Cranes. While you’re on the Coast, you can visit the 26-mile stretch of beach, where you’re sure to see an abundance of seagulls.

So it’s safe to say that if you enjoy birdwatching, you’re in the right place. And whether you’re an expert or just starting out, I promise you’ll find an abundance of birds here to suit your fancy.